New charge filed in July assault

New charge filed in July assault

November 18th, 2017by the News Tribunenews@newstribune.com
in Local News

A Jefferson City man charged in connection with an assault that occurred July 4 is facing a new charge.

Kenneth Findley Jr., 36, has been charged with tampering or attempting to tamper with a victim.

Findley allegedly wrote a letter to a family member in October, asking them to convince the victim in the assault case to drop the charges against him, according to a Jefferson City Police Department probable cause statement. The letter was sent from the Cole County Jail, where he currently is awaiting court proceeding in the assault case.

Findley was charged with second-degree domestic assault and third-degree domestic assault. He allegedly choked the victim at a Jefferson City residence and told her he would kill her.

Police said Findley made the woman get into a car and, while in the vehicle, he punched her eight to 10 times, striking her in the face, arm, ribs and leg.

The two drove to the 500 block of Hutton Lane. Findley allegedly told the woman to stay inside the vehicle, but she ran from the vehicle when Findley was out of her sight and sought help from the closest person available. That person contacted police and hid the woman in another vehicle until officers arrived.

Findley then fled the area. In late July, the Osage County Sheriff's Office received a tip Findley was in the Westphalia area and seen riding a bicycle on U.S. 63.

Deputies intercepted him near Missouri 133 and took him into custody without incident.

Findley told authorities he never assaulted the woman, only "brake checked her" while they were in the car, which caused her to hit her face on the dashboard. He also denied choking her or holding her against her will.

Findley has two previous charges for domestic assault, according to court records, with no convictions in either case. He is a known user of narcotics and had been using methamphetamine for several days prior to the July 4 incident.

Court records also show a full order of protection was issued against Findley by the victim in August.